Well, it has been a mixed week of weather across the local region this week, with mild and slightly cooler temperatures, moderate onshore winds, and scattered showers and drizzle mixed in with sunshine and blue skies.
Today will bring more of the same weather conditions as well, with those moderate onshore winds to continue, but looking ahead to the weekend we are expecting much better weather conditions with easing winds and mostly sunny skies.
Today’s winds will be from the E/SE at 15 to 20 knots, and perhaps a little gustier this afternoon as well, but the winds then will ease through the weekend.
Tomorrow morning will deliver around 10 knots of S/SE winds before they swing more from the E/SE during the day and increase only slightly to 10 to 15 knots.
Sunday will then be even better, with only 5 to 10 knots of S/SE to E/SE winds expected, which will be fantastic for beach goers looking to celebrate Mothers’ Day.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have been much like the weather during this past week – mixed!
The early mornings have been quite OK on those beaches sheltered from the onshore winds, but by mid-morning onwards, the ocean has been quite choppy and messy.
These conditions will be the same for today as well, with an almost identical wind forecast for today as to that we have seen for the past few days – but the weekend is looking much, much better in terms of swimming conditions!
Sunday, in particular, should be a fantastic day for swimmers and beach goers with the forecast for light winds.
The general trend for the weekend will be better swimming conditions through the mornings while the winds are lighter and more from the S/SE, before the ocean becomes slightly choppy through the afternoons when the winds swing from the E/SE.
The best beaches for swimmers over the coming days will be Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Nielson Park, and Moore Park Beach, and just be careful on the open and exposed beaches today while the winds are stronger and the conditions messier.
Please check with the lifeguard on duty, read any safety signage or messages, and most importantly please swim only at patrolled beaches, only between the red and yellow flags, and only during patrol times – remember, if we can’t see you, we can’t save you!
Beach patrols: Weekdays – 9 am to 5 pm at Agnes Water only
Saturday and Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing
Once again, it has not been a great week of waves this week but having said that there were opportunities to get out and find a few small but fun waves here and there.
We are expecting the onshore winds to remain quite moderate in strength today, so wave heights should remain enough to get out and enjoy – but expect it to be messy and choppy unless you get there early or stick to the northern side of the headlands.
If not, the winds will drop in intensity over the weekend, so the mornings may provide some small, but clean waves to enjoy on a long board or SUP.
Your best options will be Agnes Water, Mon Repos, Moore Park, and Nielson Park, with early to mid-morning perhaps being the better time. Good luck.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, you will have plenty of wind for a slick south to north run during today, but the winds will ease over the weekend, providing more gentle conditions at the beaches in the early mornings to enjoy a more relaxed and gentler paddle.
Events: Happy Mothers’ Day to all the wonderful mums out there!
- Other news: Last week’s beach report
